Pump operating mechanism



y 1934. P. A. FRIMAND PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1931 HEbfi ii- 1!! w W G Ll I h m mm m a 5 meaoe 246 604 m a w 2 5 ma a w: J wy w l. H 9v Hu l w w m j w ////////H//H, a 0 z u I -w Z J J ,1 I .ilwfiPatented May 15, 1934 My invention relates generally to .breast pumpapparatus and more particularly to pump apparatus of this designequipped with a pulsator mechanism.

It is one of the objects of my present invention to provide a breastpump apparatus which is of extremely simple and practical constructionand which is very efficient in operation.

One of the diificulties presented in using conventional pump mechanismswith which I am familiar is that the accumulation of foreign matterwithin portions of the machine, as, for example, the tube connecting themilk receptacle with the pump proper is in some instances forced backinto the receptacle, and it is one of the important objects of mypresent invention to overcome these difliculties by providing anapparatus which positively prevents the passage of milk vapor or otherforeign matter from the above mentioned tube into the milk containerduring the compression or return stroke of the pump.

More specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of a breastpump mechanism having a pulsator interposed between the milk receptacleor container and the pump proper.

Another object of my invention is to provide in an apparatus of the typeset forth above a pulsator of very economical and durable construction,which is adapted to be connected with a manually or mechanicallyoperated pump mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a portable pump mechanism ofsimplified construction, which is comprised of relatively few parts andwhich may be operated by the users hand or foot, said pump mechanismbeing provided with means for frictionally engaging the sLuface uponwhich the pump is placed for operation to render the same convenientlyoperable with a minimum amount of effort and skill.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pump of thereciprocable type having adjustable abutment means to control the strokeof the pump in accordance with the degree-of vacuum required.

These and numerous other objects and advantages will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspectiveelevational view of my complete breast pump apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the 'pulsator and associatedportions of the milk receptacle, said view being shown to more clearlyillustrate the structural and functional characteristics of saidpulsator; V

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View of the pulsator takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the inner shiftable sleevebeing shown in elevation to more clearly illustrate the structuralarrangement of the pulsator;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the pump proper takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the right end of the pump shown in Figure 4;and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a modified pulsatorconstruction.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals havebeen employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures,it will be seen that one embodiment of my invention, which is clearlyshown in Figure 1, includes a milk receptacle or bottle 10, a breastshield 12 mounted within a stopper 14 of the bottle, a pulsatorindicated generally by the numeral 16, and a reciprocable pump mechanism18 which is connected with said pulsator by means of a flexible conduitor tube 20. Heretofore it has been the practice in certain instances tocouple a milk receptacle directly with a reciprocable pump. Under suchconditions one stroke of the pump serves to subject the receptaclechamber to vacuum conditions so as to draw milk into the shield orbreast appliance 12, and on the return or compressing stroke. of thepump pressure relief means has been provided. Attention is directed tothe fact that my invention contemplates the use of the pulsator 16 toconnect the receptacle chamber with the pump 18.

This pulsator 16 includes an outer section or casing 22, Figures 2 and3, which is adapted to be received by an aperture 24 in the resilient orrubber stopper 14. A collar 26 surrounding the casing 22 bears againstthe upper surface of the stopper and thus limits the degree to which theeasing 22 may be inserted. Obviously the collar 26 may be formedintegral with the casing 22 without departing from the scope of myinvention. A pair of oppositely disposed apertures 28 extend through thecasing 22 and collar 26, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and theseapertures are adapted, when an inner tubular member 30 occupies theposition shown in Figure 2, to establish atmospheric communication withthe inner passageway 32 of said member through radial ports 34, and anannular passage 35. Secured to the upper end of the outer casing 22 is acoupling or elbow 36, and this elbow is provided with a nipple 38 whichis adapted to receive one extremity of the flexible tube 20, theopposite end of said tube being connected with a nipple 40 provided atone end of a cylinder 42 of the pump 18, Figure 4.

The inner tubular member 30 of the pulsator 16 is reciprocable withinthe casing 22 and is closed at its upper end in any suitable manner, as,for example, by a plug 44. A ball valve 46 is adapted by the force ofgravity to seat itself at the upper end of the longitudinal passageway32, as clearly shown in Figure 2, thereby closing communication betweensaid passageway and a chamber 48 positioned at the upper end thereof.This chamber 48 communicates with oppositely disposed radial ports 50 inthe tubular section or member 30, and these ports are adapted tocommunicate with the chamber or passage 32 within the coupling 36 whenthe tubular member 30 is shifted to its upper position shown in Figure3.

The upward movement or shifting of the tubular member 30 is occasionedin response to the force exerted by the pump 18 during the suctionstroke of a pump piston 54 (to the right), Figure 4. This suction strokeof the piston 54 serves to shift the tubular member 30 to the positionshown in Figure 3, and in this position the ball valve 46 becomesunseated, thereby establishing communication between the chamber 52 andthe passageway 32 through the radial ports 50 and the chamber 48. Thus,upon the stroke of the piston 54 to the right, the chamber of the milkreceptacle 10 is subjected to a vacuum and the tube 30 is automaticallyshifted upwardly; Shifting the valve to this position closes the ports34, and, as stated above, establishes communication between the chamberof the receptacle 10 and the pump cylinder 42 through the ports 50.

Upon the reverse stroke of the pump piston 54, the ball valve instantlyseats itself and the tube 30 immediately shifts to the position shown inFigure 2 through the action of gravity and is also assisted by thevacuum conditions Within the container 10. When the tube 30 reaches itslowermost position shown in Figure 2, communication between the chamberof the receptacle 10 and the atmosphere is established through the ports28, 34 and 35. The seating of the ball valve 46 takes place immediatelyupon the discontinuance of the vacuum action of the 'pump, and thisseating of the ball valve positively insures the return of the tubularsection 30 to the position shown in Figure 2. This will be apparent whenit is understood that the seating of the valve occurs instantaneouslyupon the completion of the stroke of the pump piston and before thevacuum within the chamber of the receptacle 10 is disturbed. Hence, saidvacuum will eifect the sudden and positive downward movement of the tube30. This fact is important from a practical standpoint. In someinstances milk vapors become lodged between the surfaces of the tube 30and the casing 22, thereby requiring additional force to shift the tubewithin the casing. By employing my im proved ball valve and associatedpulsator structure, I positively insure the downward shifting of thetube within the casing so as to subject the receptacle chamber toatmospheric conditions. The sudde'n'closirig of the-ba1l valveimmediately upon the completion of the suction stroke of the upon thefloor.

breast pump apparatus with which I am familiar. Any accumulation offoreign matter within the flexible tube 20 of the pump cylinder ispositively prevented from entering the milk container because the ballvalve closes instantly upon the completion of the suction stroke of thepump. By preventing the return of foreign matters or milk vapor into thecontainer, the possibility of infection is avoided. The alternatesubjection of the chamber within the milk receiving receptacle 10 tovacuum and atmospheric conditions gives the desired pulsating effectwithin the breast appliance 12. Upon the return or compressing stroke ofthe pump piston 54 to the left, Figure 4, the air from the advancingside of the piston within the cylinder 42 passes out of said cylinderbetween the periphery of the piston and the internal wall of thecylinder. Thus during the return or compressing stroke of the pump milkcondensation taken into the tube or pump during its suction stroke maypass out of the cylinder without reentering the milk container. The pumpis so arranged that a very slight compression takes place upon themovement of the piston to the left. However, on the movement of thepiston to the right the desired degree of vacuum may be maintainedwithin the milk receiving receptacle during the movement of said piston.

In Figure 6 I have disclosed a modified pulsator which I have designatedby the numeral 16a.

This pulsator is similar in many respects to the pulsator 16, but is notprovided with a ball valve, nor is it provided with ports similar to theports 50 of the pulsator 16. For purposes of conveniently comparing theelements in the pulsator 16a which cor-respond with the elements in thepulsator 16, similar figures with the sufiix a, have been employed. Itwill be seen that the outer casing 220/, is connected with a coupling36a, and an inner tubular member 30a is reciprocable within the casing22a. The tubular member 30a is provided with an internal longitudinalrecess 32a which is closed at its upper end by means of a cap 44a.Radial ports 34a and an annular port or passage 35a serve to establishatmospheric communication with the central passage 32a when the tubularmember 30a occupies the position shown in Figure 6. When said tubularmember is shifted to its uppermost position, the annular passage 35aclears the upper end of the casing 22a and thereby serves to connect thepump for evacuation pur poses with the chamber of the milk receptacle.

The pump mechanism 18 has certain structural features which render thesame very practical, and in this connection it 'will be seen that areciprocable boxlike member 56 is provided, which is coupled with apiston rod 56 connected at one extremity to the piston 54. The boxlikestructure or member 56 is reciproca'ble within a suitable case member60. The base member '60 includes side walls or guides 60a and end walls60b. The side wall 60a'cooperates with companion side walls of themember 56 so as to guide said member during the reciprocation thereof.Resilient feet 62 are provided on the underside of the base 60, whilesimilar resilient members 64 are provided on the outer surface of thereciprocable boxlike member 56. These members '62 and'64 serve to set upan increase in frictional resistance with the work piece upon which thepump mechanism is placed so as to prevent one part from slipping whenthe other part is reciprocated. The base is so'designed that 'it maybeconveniently arranged inltheusers lap, on the bed, chair, or even Whenplaced upon the floor the plates the use of power driven pumps.

user employs foot power by merely placing the foot on the members 34,with the member 62 resting upon the floor. The boxlike structure 56 maybe conveniently gripped by the hand and thus manually operated at anydesired speed.

I provide an abutment 66 which is adapted to be adjustably secured invarious positions along the bottom of the base 60 by means of a screw68. The length of the stroke of the pump piston will determine thedegree of vacuum within the chamber of the milk receptacle 10, and henceby controlling the piston stroke, a predetermined vacuum during eachstroke will be obtained. By setting the abutment 66 at the positionwhich aiTords the proper vacuum condition, the pump may be operatedwithout the necessity of employing expensive and complicated gauges. Iprovide graduations along the surface of the base 60, as clearly shownin Figure 5, so as to facilitate the proper setting of the abutment 66.The pumping mechanism 18 is extremely simple in construction and may bedismantled for purposes of repair or replacement by merely lifting theboxlike member 56 away from the base 60.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention contemplatesthe provision of a very simple and efiiciently operable breast pumpapparatus. All of the mechanical structures may be manufactured by thepractice of conventional machine shop methods and the parts thereof areexceedingly few in number. Thus, the entire device can be manufacturedat a very small cost. Obviously the invention is not limited to the useof manually operated pumps, but also contem- The invention is notlimited to the specific structural features of the pulsator disclosed inthe drawing, but is capable of numerous other modifications and changeswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the combination of an elongatedbase, manually operable means shiftable upon and longitudinally of saidbase, a cylinder secured to said base, a piston within said cylinder,and means connecting said piston with said manually operable means, saidmanually operable means being detachably arranged with respect to saidbase.

2. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the

combination of an elongated base, manually operable means shiftable uponand longitudinally of said base, a cylinder secured to said base, apiston within said cylinder, means connecting said piston with saidmanually operable means, and means carried by the base and adapted toprevent slippage of the base with respect to the surface against whichit may be applied during the shifting of said manually operable member.

3. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the combination of an elongatedbase, manually operable means shiftable upon and longitudinally of saidbase, a cylinder secured to said base, a piston within said cylinder,means connecting said piston with said manually operable means, andmeans carried by the shiftable member adapted to be engaged by the usersfoot in such a manner as to prevent slippage.

4. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the combination of an elongatedbase, manually operable means shiftable upon and longitudinally of saidbase, a piston within said cylinder, means connecting said piston withsaid manually operable means, and members extending laterally of saidbase along the margins thereof to provide guides for said manuallyshiftable means.

5. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the combination of a base,piston operating means shiftable on the base, a cylinder on said base, apiston within said cylinder connected with said shiftable means, andadjustable abutment means for limiting the stroke or the piston inaccordance with the degree of vacuum required when the pump is in use.

6. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the combination of a base,piston operating means shiftable on the base, a cylinder on said base, apiston within said cylinder connected with said shiftable means, andadjustable abutment means mounted upon said base and adapted to beshifted therealong into various positions in accordance with the degreeof vacuum required when the pump is in use.

'7. In a breast pump operating mechanism, the combination of a base, afiuid actuator carried by said base, said actuator including a cylinderand piston construction, actuator operating means shiftable upon saidbase, and means for adjustably limiting the length of stroke of saidactuator in accordance with the degree of vacuum required when the pumpis in use.

PETER A. FRIMAND.

